Doctor of Physical Therapy Admission Requirements

The application process for summer admission to the Oregon Tech/OHSU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will open on July 17, 2024.  The Oregon Tech/OHSU DPT program plans to participate in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS, in the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.  Applicants applying to the Oregon Tech/OHSU physical therapist education program for the 2025 entering class will apply online using the PTCAS application beginning July 17, 2024. To learn more about PTCAS, visit www.ptcas.org.  Applications will be due November 1, 2024.  Offers of admission will be made on a rolling basis, beginning two weeks after interviews and continuing until class is filled. All applicants must satisfy requirements for admission, which include:

  • Bachelor’s Degree

    • Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the date of program enrollment, which is in September of each year.

  • Minimum Cumulative and Prerequisite GPAs of 3.0

    • The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.0 and the minimum prerequisite GPA is 3.0. Higher GPAs will be more competitive within the applicant pool.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores

The GRE is not required for DPT applicants.

Transcripts

Transcripts from each institution are required, including any graduate coursework or degrees completed.

Physical Therapy Observation Hours

Clinical experience in a physical therapy setting and under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist is not required, but applicants may be more competitive if they have this experience. This requirement can be completed in a volunteer or paid capacity.

Essays

The application will include two essays: the standard PTCAS essay and an Oregon Tech/OHSU personal statement.  Please make sure that you answer both essay questions.

Related Work/Volunteer Experience

Applicants will be required to list related work and volunteer experiences, via PTCAS, that they have had that are somehow related to physical therapy but not actually in physical therapy.  Some examples are listed below:

  • working as a caregiver
  • working as a medical scribe
  • coaching a youth sports team
  • working as a personal trainer
  • working at a retirement center
Three Letters of Recommendation

Three confidential letters of recommendation from professionals attesting to the ability, scholarship, and aptitude of the candidate for a rigorous full-time DPT program.

  • At least one letter must be from a licensed physical therapist with whom the applicant had a professional association and can thereby appropriately evaluate the applicant’s potential as a student in the physical therapy program.
  • One letter must be from a professor for a course which the applicant completed.
  • The third letter of recommendation can be from a licensed physical therapist, academic instructor for a course which the applicant completed, or an individual that the applicant worked, volunteered, served or participated with in a professional environment or setting. Letters from family or friends will not meet this requirement.
Program Disclosure Form

Once your PTCAS application is submitted, verified, and received by Oregon Tech/OHSU, applicants will be sent an email notification from Oregon Tech/OHSU asking you to review and sign the Program Disclosure form. 

Technical Standards Form

Once your PTCAS application is submitted, verified, and received by Oregon Tech/OHSU, applicants will be sent an email notification asking you to review and sign the Technical Standards form.

Prerequisite Courses and Other Recommended Courses

  • Applications to the program may be submitted prior to completing all prerequisite coursework. However, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation with total and prerequisite GPA above a 3.0.
  • All courses must be acceptable for science majors or for pre-health professions majors.
  • Courses described as “survey” will not be accepted as prerequisites.
  • Grades of “C” or better are required in all prerequisite courses, as outlined below.
  • Prerequisite courses taken on a “pass/no pass” basis will not be accepted with the except for Medical Terminology.   
  • All science coursework must be completed within 7 years of the intended year of entry. We accept requests for exceptions to this requirement if the applicant can demonstrate the use of the information during employment, volunteer activities, or advanced study. Evaluation of these requests will occur on a case-by-case basis.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be accepted for the initial Chemistry, Physics, or Anatomy & Physiology courses if the second course following undergraduate matriculation has a "C" or better grade. AP courses can also be applied to the statistics prerequisite course and the psychology prerequisite courses.
Biological Sciences:
  • A one-year biology series with labs designated for science majors or pre-health professions (12 quarter credits or 8 semester credits)
    • BIO 211+212+213 at Oregon Tech, or comparable coursework elsewhere
  • A one-year human anatomy & physiology series with labs OR one semester of anatomy (with lab) and one semester of physiology (with lab) designated for science majors or pre-health professions (12 quarter credits or 8 semester credits).
    • BIO 231+232+233 or BIO 331+332+333 at Oregon Tech, or comparable coursework elsewhere
Chemistry:
  • A one-year general chemistry series with labs designated for science majors or pre-health professions (12 quarter credits or 8 semester credits).
    • CHE 221+222+223 at Oregon Tech, or comparable coursework elsewhere
Physics:
  • A one-year general physics series with labs designated for science majors or pre-health professions (12 quarter credits or 8 semester credits).
    • PHY 221+222+223 at Oregon Tech, or comparable coursework elsewhere. An algebra-based physics course series is also acceptable.
Mathematics:
  • 1 semester each of pre-calculus and statistics (6 credits total).
Psychology: 
  • 3 quarter courses OR 2 semester courses (6 credits total).
Social Sciences: 
  • 3 quarter courses or 2 semester courses (6 credits total).
English: 

3 quarter courses or 2 semester courses (6 credits total).

Medical Terminology: 
  • 1 course (2 credits total).

 

  • Adult Development and Aging
  • Kinesiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomechanics of Human Movement
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Developmental Psychology/Child Development
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Abnormal Psychology

 

For questions regarding application requirements or the online application, Contact the Office of Admissions at oit@oit.edu or (800) 422-2017.

Important Dates for Applications
DateItem
June 17, 2024PTCAS Application open
September 15, 2024First-priority applications due with first-priority interviews to follow quickly
Early October, 2024Open house and tour for DPT Program
Mid-late October, 2024Early interviews for select applications that meet the September 15, 2024
application deadline
November 1, 2024Application deadline, PTCAS must be submitted by 11:59pm EST
December – JanuaryInterviews for all qualifying applicants 

*Offers of admissions are made on a rolling basis until class is filled

Transfer Students

Unfortunately, we do not accept transfer students at this time. 

Criminal Background Check

All incoming students are required to undergo a state and nationwide criminal background check. Students are responsible for any associated costs. Background checks may be completed through PTCAS or through any vendor that meets the criteria set by the state of Oregon. Students who are interested in applying to the Oregon Tech/OHSU DPT program and have previously been convicted of a misdemeanor or any type of felony, please contact Oregon Tech to discuss your situation confidentially.

 

Director of Clinical Education DPT